Minister's Words To Gambling Reform Advocate 'Shocking'.

Communications Minister Anika Wells is under fire from a host of advocates and crossbenchers for telling a former betting addict to encourage betting business about reforms, not her.


Kate Seselja got rid of a pokies addiction that almost led to her taking her own life.


Ms Seselja said Ms Wells told her during a meeting in August 2025 it was not the minister who required convincing about gambling reforms but the betting business, and sporting codes that produced profits from betting.


"I was flabbergasted," Ms Seselja informed AAP.


"To be asked if I had tried to have conferences with them, as a lived experience supporter, was dreadful.


"To have that level of detach to the reality of betting harm faced by millions of Australians, to recommend that people with lived experience go consult with these predators, made me lose belief in the political system."


Fellow supporter Anna Bardsley from the Gambling Harm Lived Experience Experts (GHLEE), who likewise attended the meeting, substantiated the exchange.


Ms Wells' office did not reject the comment was made, stating the minister welcomed the opportunity to consult with the 2 advocates to listen to their experience with gambling harm.


A spokesperson indicated Labor government procedures including the intro of the self-exclusion register BetStop, a restriction on credit cards for online gambling and modifications to cautioning taglines after ads.


"The Australian federal government takes seriously our responsibility to safeguard Australians, especially young and susceptible individuals, from the damages of online gambling," the spokesperson said.


Independent MP Kate Chaney branded the minister's remarks a betrayal of Australians experiencing gambling damage, stating they were "shocking but unfortunately not surprising".


"Being told to lobby the gaming market yourself, after a decade of vigorous advocacy and nearly losing your life to dependency, is an extensive failure of leadership," she said.


Ms Seselja stated staff from the communication minister's workplace informed her to keep defending reforms during a subsequent meeting in March.


"I really broke down and lost it at the staffer, because I said to her, if you're not going to do your job, then resource GHLEE to do it," Ms Seselja said.


"People are dying and no one is stopping the carnage."


Independent senator David Pocock described Ms Seselja's recount as deeply unpleasant, while independent MP Monique Ryan attacked the federal government for failing to take responsibility for the issue or stand up to vested interests.


Alliance for Gambling Reform chief supporter Tim Costello branded the remarks and inaction on the concern "a total failure of federal government", including he was gobsmacked the federal government had not reacted to a gaming damage report launched almost 1000 days back.


The landmark report into gambling harm handed down in June 2023 by late Labor MP Peta Murphy advised a phase-out of marketing, curbing temptations and an overarching nationwide harm-reduction structure.